Fuel distributing device



' Nov. 5, 1940.

w. T.- HANNA FUEL.DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1937 w mm...

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR' William Thompson Hanna BY ATTORNEYS NOV. 5, 1940. I I w T N A, 2,220,864

FUEL DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1937 s Sheets- Sheet 2 III/I" INVENTOR William Thompson Hanna -ATTORNE S Nov. 5,1940. w, NN 2,220,864

FUEL DI STRIBUTINQ DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR William Tkompson Hanna ATTORN Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a fuel distributing device for a locomotive stoker or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved fuel distributing apparatus or blast chamber for a locomotive coal stoker which is characterized by simplicity, durability and eificiency. Another object is toprovide a device of the above nature which effectively distributes run-of-the-mine coal to all portions of the locomotive fire box. In this connection, it might be noted that run-of-the-mine coal comprises coal particles ranging in size from dust to large particles. When such coal is subjected to the steam jets of a blast chamber having low pressure jets for the fine coal and high pressure jets for the larger coal, it often happens that the coal dust is subjected to the-high pressure steam jets in such a way that it is blown out of the fire box and directly into the locomotive smoke stack, increasing stack losses and smoke. Itis, accordingly, another object of this invention to rectify such conditions in a practical manner.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea-' tures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the'structure to be hereinafter described and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of th various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure l is a perspective view of my fuel distributing device;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken through the center line thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken along i the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of form of my fuel distributing device taken along a transverse line thereof;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the device shown in Figure 4; and i c Figure 6 is a front sectional elevation of another modification'of my fuel distributing device taken along a transverse line thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

Referring first to Figure 2, a boiler backhead III is provided with a usual fire opening H, the upper portion ila of which is closed by a conventional fire door I 2. 7

As is more clearly shown in Figure 3; the lower portion of fire opening II is covered by a casting or the like l3, having flanges 13a and i317 a modified secured in any suitable manner to backhead Ill.

An inclined fuel conduit [4 (Figure 2) is suitably seciued to casting IS, the fuel conduit being suitably inclined and containing therein a rotatable fuel conveying screw l5, which preferably tapers at its upper end and terminates at a point substantially adjacent the joint between casting 13 and conduit l4. Conduit M ispreferably provided with an end supporting annular portion Ma to which is suitably secured fuel dis tributing apparatus generally indicated at It for distributing fuel fed thereto by means of the screw conveyor l5. The distributing apparatus comprises a blast chamber Ilia to which is detachably secured by bolts 30 a distributor plate 23 serrated on its top toform channels separated by ridges 24 (Figure 3). Fuel falling from the end of the conduit toward the distributing plate iii is blown therefrom over the fire box by means of steam jets emitted from the blast chamber Ilia.

Such a fuel distributing assembly is shown in U'. S. Patent No. 2,029,517 to E. A. Turner et al., wherein the blast chamber is provided with an upper compartment I1 suitably connected to a high pressure steam line and a lower compartinent i8 suitably connected with a low pressure steam line. Formed in the front wall of the blast chamber are a plurality of jets l9, 2!! and El, jets I 9 and 20 connecting with the high pressure chamber ll and'jets 2! connecting with the low pressure chamber I 8. With this construction all the fuel dropping toward the distributor plate from the top of the blast chamber first encounters the high pressure jets which has the disadvantage of blowing the finer fuel particles out of the fire box. and into the stack, whence they are carried out by the draft and not only produce black smoke but also decrease the. firing efficiency.

In U. S. patent to Hanna 2,044,001 screening fingers are provided, integrally formed with the blast chamber for screening the fine fuel from the coarser fuel in such a manner that the fine fuel :is presented only to the low pressure steam jets, and the high pressure jets serving to distribute the larger pieces of fuel which are not carried out of the stack by the force of thehigh pressure jets. In the present invention, both of the older structures are improved on by providing, as is more clearly shown in Figure 1,'Ya vertical alignment of jets I9, 20 and. 2!, and

over each line of jets a finger 22 is secured to the front wall of the blast chamber. 7

Fingers 22 may, under certain circumstances,

preferably each finger has a threaded projection 22a thereon which may be screwed into a suitably threaded hole formed in wall |6a of the blast chamber. Thus, the fingers are individually removable and are readily replaceabl in the event they are burned off. As is better shown in Figures 2 and 3, fingers 22 project a substantial distance from front wall |6a of the blast chamber and are preferably tapered in form. It should also be noted that fingers 22 are preferably substantially triangular in cross section so that the apex 22b of each is uppermost.

With this construction, in which the fingers are imperforate, complications of boring the fingers as shown in the patent to Hanna are avoided and any serring over or distortion of the fingers occurring during firing operation does not seriously impair their efficiency and the construction of the blast chamber is simplified.

The ridges of the fuel distributing plate 23 are preferably wedge-shaped and the ridges at the opposite sides of plate 23 preferably curve outwardly with respect thereto. The ridges 24 are preferably arranged to assist the desired spread of the coal under the impulse of steam from the steam jets over the fire bed. The provision of manually adjustable wings or vanes 25 and 26 pivotally secured to the top of blast chamber I6 aid in diverting the fuel flow to one section or the other of the bed.

As pointed out above, fingers 22 (Figure 1) are positioned directly above high pressure jets 9 and 20. Thus as large and small particles of coal move over the top of blast chamber l6 by screw conveyer l5, the finer particles of coal are in effect screened by the sloping upper surfaces of fingers 22, that is, these finer particles are diverted from high pressure steam blasts emitting from jets I9 and 20 so that they fall between adjacent high pressure jets on to ridges 24 which direct the fine particles into the path of steam shooting from low pressure jets 2|. The fine particles of coal are accordingly distributed over those portions of the fire box adjacent the blast chamber and are accordingly not blown out of the fire box to the locomotive smoke stack. As the steam rushes from the high pressure jets it expands upwardly, downwardly and transversely, the downward expansion, in effect, forming a steam blanket which forces the fine fuel downwardly against the fire bed and deposits it thereupon against the action of the draft which might otherwise pull the fine fuel up through the smoke stack. A

Steam, in flowing from the high pressure jets I9 and expanding in all directions, is deflected downwardly by contact with the under flat sides of the fingers 22, much the way in which-a stream of Water may be deflected from a flat surface against which it is obliquely directed.

The large particles of coal not being able to fall between fingers 22, tumble off the ends thereof directly into the path of the expanding high pressure jets l9 and 2|]. Such large particles of coal are accordingly distributed over the fire box to all portions thereof, depending upon their size and relative weight.

I also preferably provide additional low pressure steam jets 50, formed in sides |6b-of blast chamber I6, to effect the distribution of both large and fine particles of coal forced over the opposite sides of the blast chamber.

It may now be seen that by aligning vertically the high and low pressure steam jets 22 (Figure 1), and by placing over each line of jets the tapered fingers 22, adjacent fingers effectively screen the coal causing the fine particles thereof to fall to the low pressure jets below the tops of the high pressure jets, while the larger and heavier particles are subjected to the high pressure blasts. Thus, an even distribution of coal particles of all sizes is effected and the production of soot and sparks is maintained at a minimum.

In Figures 4 and 5 in which another embodiment of my fuel distributing device is shown, a blast chamber 30 (Figure 5) has formed in its forward wall a plurality of high pressure jets 3|, and a plurality of low pressure jets 32. Secured to and extending forwardly from the lower portion of blast chamber 30 is a distributor plate 33 on which are formed fuel distributing ridges 34. A plurality of screening devices or fingers 35 are secured to and extend from the forward wall of blast chamber 30.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 4, high pressure jets 3| are vertically aligned in pairs and with fuel distributing ridges 34. Over each of such alignments, one of fingers 35 is disposed. It is also noted that high pressure jets 3| are also in alignment horizontally. Beneath the bottommost row of high pressure jets 3|, low pressure jets 32 are also preferably in horizontal alignment, and each of these jets is disposed between adjacent ridges 34.

The fingers 35, associated with the high pressure jets 3| in the manner that the fingers 22 are associated with the jets l9, serve to deflect downwardly the expanding steam jets issuing from the jets 3|.

Preferably the blast chamber is substantially of the same type as blast chamber l6 shown in Figure 2, and also fingers are preferably provided with a threaded projection as in the case of fingers 22 (Figure 2) to permit detachable attachment of fingers 35 to blast chamber 30.

It may now be seen that when run-of-themine coal is forced over the upper edge of blast chamber 30, the finer coal particles are free to fall between fingers 35 and be diverted accordingly from the path of high pressure steam issuing from high pressure jets 3|. The finer coal particles thus fall directly into the path of low pressure steam from jets 32 and are blown thereby on to the fire bed. The larger particles of coal roll over the extending fingers 35 into the path of high pressure steam and are also distributed over the fire bed. Thus an even distribution of coal particles is effected.

In Figure 6, in which a third embodiment of my fuel distributing device is shown, a blast chamber 44 has formed in its forward wall a plurality of high pressure steam jets 4| and a plurality of low pressure steam jets 42. Extending from the bottom of blast chamber and secured thereto is a fuel distributing plate 43 provided with ridges 44. A plurality of screening fingers are preferably detachably secured to the forward face of blast chamber 40, these fingers being substantially similar to fingers 22 and 35 shown in Figures 1 and 5. It is also noted that fuel distributing plate 43 and its ridges 44 are substantially similar to fuel distributing plate 23 and its ridges 24 as shown in Figure 1.

High pressure jets 4| (Figure 6) are preferably aligned horizontally but are disposed in staggered relationship vertically, and over each of these jets one of fingers 45 is positioned. Each jet in the upper horizontal-row of the jets is preferably positioned above the space between adjacent ridges 44, whereas each jet in the lower row of high pressure jets 4! is preferably positioned over and in alignment with the three center ridges 44. Accordingly, fingers will also be aligned horizontally, but in staggered relationship vertically.

Low pressure jets 42 are also preferably horizontally aligned and each is positioned between adjacent ridges 44.

Thus, when run-of-the-mine coal is forced over the upper edge of blast chamber 40, the finer particles of coal are diverted by fingers 45 from high pressure jets 4| into the path of steam emitting from low pressure jets 42. The larger particles, however, fall over the ends of fingers 45 directly into the path of high pressure steam from jets 4|. Thus all sizes of coal particles are uniformly distributed over the fire bed.

It may also be seen that I have provided a fuel distributing device for a locomotive stoker which achieves the several objects noted above in a practical and efficient manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A fuel distributing device for a locomotive stoker comprising, in combination, a blast chamber, a distributor plate associated with said blast chamber and having a plurality of ridges formed thereon, said blast chamber having a plurality of high and low pressure steam jets formed in a forward face thereof, said jets being positioned to direct high and low pressure steam on coal particles, said low pressure jets being positioned between adjacent ridges, at least some of said high pressure jets being in vertical alignment with said ridges, and fuel guiding members secured to and extending forwardly from said blast chamber and disposed over the uppermost high pressure jets, and the topsurfaces of each fuel guiding member sloping downwardly and forwardly to divert relatively fine coal particles from falling in front of the high pressure jets.

2. A fuel distributing device for a locomotive stoker comprising, in combination, a blast chamber, a distributor plate associated with said blast chamber and having a plurality of ridges formed thereon, said blast chamber having a plurality of high and low pressure steam jets formed in the forward face thereof, said jets being positioned to direct high and low pressure steam on coal particles, said low pressure jets being positioned between adjacent ridges, said high pressure jets being in horizontal alignment but in staggered relationship vertically, and fuel guiding members secured to and extending forwardly from said blast chamber and disposed over each high pressure jet, and the top surfaces of the members sloping downwardly and forwardly to divert relatively fine coal particles from falling in front of the high pressure jets.

3. A fuel distributing device for a locomotive stoker comprising a blast chamber having orificesterminating in a plane front face of said blast chamber for emitting high and low pressure jets adapted to act on coal particles falling in front of them, and fuel guiding members secured to and extending forwardly from the front plane face of said blast chamber and extending over said high pressure jets to divert relatively fine-coal particles from falling in front of the high pressure jets and to guide large coal particles into the path of the high pressure jets, the coal guiding surfaces of said fuel guiding members extending outwardly and downwardly from said face of said blast chamber so that the coal particles passing thereover are screened and selectively presented to said jets.

4. A fuel distributing device for a locomotive stoker comprising a blast chamber adapted to emit high and low pressure jets from'a front plane face which act on coal particles falling in front of the jets, fuel guiding members secured to and extending from the front plane face of said blast chamber to divert relatively fine coal particles from falling in front of the high pressure jets and to guide large coal particles into the path of the high pressure jets, the coal guiding surfaces of said fuel guiding members extending outwardly and downwardly from said face of said blast chamber so that the coal particles passing thereover are screened and selectively presented to said jets, and means for detachably securing said fuel guiding members to said blast chamber.

5. A fuel distributing device for a locomotive stoker comprising ablast chamber having in a front plane face thereof orifices for emitting high and low pressure jets adapted to act on coal particles falling in front of them, and fuel guiding members secured to and extending forwardly from the front plane face of said blast chamber and extending over said high pressure jets to divert relatively fine coal particles from falling in front of the high pressure jets and tojguide large, coal particles into the path of the high pressure jets, the coal guiding surfaces of said fuel guiding members extending outwardly and downwardly from said face of said blast chamber so that the coal particles passing thereover are screened and selectively presented to said jets, the lower surfaces of said fuel guiding members being substantially fiat to act as canopies or the like over said high pressure jets to deflect said jets and in effect flatten the tops thereof, whereby coal particles acted upon by said jets are not subjected to forces tending to blow such particles upwardly.

WILLIAM THOMPSON HANNA. 

